The Diva Del Mar is Levitated by Doctor Strange
I remember when I was a young girl, I used to watch David Carradine’s Kung Fu reruns on television with my dad. The most impressive episode that still lives in my memory, is one where Caine is imprisoned in a container of some sort, with no water or food, and exposed to extreme temperatures. Using meditation alone, he survives his imprisonment and helps a fellow prisoner survive with him. I remember having to ask my dad how this was possible and he said that the power of his mind let Caine survive, when he should have died. For a kid, it was an enormous concept to ingest, but it fascinated me. He had surpassed the laws of physics and science with just his mind.
When I parked my tush in a theater seat yesterday to watch Doctor Strange, I had already seen 15 minutes of teaser footage in a previous press release. I was vibrating with excitement because from what I had seen, which was GLORIOUS, Marvel had created a movie that not only features their signature stunning visuals, but that also captures that same concept of mind over science. And after finishing the film, I was truly impressed. This is probably one of the best written, best acted, most gorgeous, and truly profound film Marvel Studios has ever made.
And while Benedict Cumberbatch is absolutely perfect as Dr. Strange, Tilda Swinton stole the show for me as The Ancient One. Her voice, her charisma, and her physical presence is incredible in this film. Her action sequences are liquidly smooth and transcendent. As The Ancient One she stays completely centered and self-aware, without losing a profound and perfect vulnerability and warmth. There’s a scene when her character and Strange are sharing a deep moment on a balcony. I started tearing up as she offers the egotistical Strange a very poignant and heart-felt lesson. It is one of the most beautiful moments of dialogue I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. Oh, it got me. It got me good, and I can’t wait to see it again.
Adding to the phenomenal cast and performances, the structure and focus of this film is refreshing. It doesn’t follow the same formulaic origin story of most super hero or kung-fu films. We don’t see Dr. Strange in his day to day spiritual/combat training, instead, the film captures his emotional development as the main story arch. He doesn’t just work hard to earn his skills and to beat the bad guy, he actually undergoes a fundamental inner character shift. This is a story about unleashing the potential of the human mind through spiritual advancement, and to do this, all of your “chakras” must be unblocked. In other words, you must be in touch with all parts of your being, both physical and emotional. This is why Cumberbatch is perfect for the role. He makes being emotionally vulnerable and mature look freaking awesome! As if ladies needed another reason to swoon over this British acting powerhouse!
Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Mads Mikkelsen throw in some stellar performances in their respective roles, and I was surprised the see Scott Adkins in the mix as well. I always loved the Undisputed series, so it’s nice to see him working the mainstream more often.
Visually, this film is second-to-none and it was just pure joy to watch it in IMAX 3D. It’s colorful, magical, and gasp-worthy. I lost myself in the beauty of it’s design and I wanted so much to watch it again immediately after it was finished. I rarely go to see movies in theaters twice, but I’ll make an exception for this one. It’s just so marvelous.
This music is a bit strange, and that’s no pun intended. Personally, I wasn’t a big fan of the score, but I didn’t notice until the end credits because the rest of the movie had involved me completely. And, like with all big Marvel productions, you need to stay after the credits. Right? (hint hint)
Highly anticipated, and rightly so, Doctor Strange is going to rock audiences this fall. It’s a masterpiece and I insist you see it in 3D. Seriously, do it. I know there are some folks who resist, and that would be folly with this film. You will want that amazing depth, especially if you get the chance to see it in IMAX. Go see it and free that gorgeous mind of yours.
Thanks for reading,
The Diva Del Mar
